Take me to Church

One of my followers left a comment on Instagram after I posted the results from the Triple Lakes Trail Race, “I cannot imagine running 40 miles! What’s that like?” I love interacting with people, so I provided my answer and he thought that it was a similar way that running makes him feel. So, I decided to try and write a post about it and see if I can articulate what it’s like to run 40 miles, or any distance that really challenges me.

One of the main reasons that I run, is because as the miles increase, it really strips away all of the things in my life that are just not very important. This is why, I believe, that you hear so many runners say that running “clears” their head. At a certain point, I get so focused on putting one foot in front of the other and my breathing, that all of the little worries in life just kind of melt away. And, what’s left is the “real” me.

What I mean by this, is that once all of the minor crap is gone, I am left with what I believe is important, and those things tie directly back to my values. In this way, I am exposing, to myself, what I value and what I believe. It can be quite eye opening. The further I run, the more exposed I get. When I am really hurting and I still need to run nine more miles, the reasons that I run and what is truly motivating me come straight to the surface.

As an example, I ALWAYS think of my wife when I am in the pain cave. “If you can knock out the next 10 km’s, you’ll be that much closer to seeing Mary at the finish.” I tell myself. I think of my brother-in-law and how if he can wake up with the pain he has from his accident and function every day, then I certainly can keep going. No excuses. If I am running for a cause, like the Disabled American Veterans, I think about how these men and women sacrificed and how what I am doing is just a sport that I chose to do.

As the pain and the tiredness set in, I start to search my soul for the strength to push forward. I hear that little voice in my head “Don’t quit, show your children that anything is possible. Be an example. Lead other people and improve the world a little today. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. You are a machine. You are a beast. Persevere and learn another life lesson. Cleanse your soul.”

That last part, is it in a nutshell. Running these long distances is like going to church for me. I open myself up completely, I feel that I have somehow cleansed my soul, and when it’s over and I can still feel the pain and taste the sweat, I am looking for the next one because I want more…

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